Alex loved The Guild Hall on Preston. I saw him a few times there around this time. There was a little old lady called Lizzie Baron who was from the next village to where we lived. She was the one that organised all his good luck cards that you sometimes saw on his table next to his seat. She adored him.
Yes it is her! I once spoke to her in 1989 as she came into the DIY shop I worked in and she said Alex was a 'bloody fool to himself' but it didn't stop her supporting him, even at her age.
Hello Trevor I Attended the 1984 Alex Higgins v Cliff Thorburn Semi Final in This Prestigious UK Championship. A Outstanding Match One of The Best I Ever Saw Live. In Total i Attended 29 Snooker Matches Live Between 1981 to 1992. My Favourite Venue was The Assembly Rooms in Derby. Have a Smashing Weekend WAYNE.
I lost count at the amount of live matches I saw but it's probably over 200. Went to the Masters at Wembley every year from 1984-2006. Went many times also to Hexagon Reading and also Bournemouth international centre plus Derby a few times and The Guild Hall Preston once and of course not to forget the Crucible went twice in 85,86
@@digeme69 Top Draw you Attended loads of Matches. i Saw Another Great Match at the Norbreck Castle Hotel In Blackpool the 1988 Mercantile Final 1988 Davis v Parrott. as said Great Final Freezing Outside Snow.
two class players making the game look ridiculously easy... effortless potting & break building... wonderfully complimented by less is more commentary... miss these days.
David vine...Harry Carpenter....the voice of Clive Everton Ted lowe and John Spencer...with Len Ganley the big Irish ref played on BCE tables.....with two great players.....I used to watch these guys when i was 17 and i am 57 Now....I met Ray Reardon when i was 17......They were great times in snooker.
Snooker in its heyday. However big snooker is now, it was then when it was REALLY big!! You had to book a table a week in advance at my local snooker club.
I was a century break player an above average club player. I was in the era of Jimmy white Steve Davis. I still maintain the most underated player ever. In my opinion is Ray Reardon.
@@christiano8088 yep...i used to go to my local snooker centre when the worlds was on and the place would be chocker ! and there were quite a few snooker clubs in cardiff at that time...couldnt get a table.....same used to happen with tennis courts when wimbledon was on as well !
Your comment jumped out, as you call Alex by his family name, my grandmother and Alex Mother were sisters. He stayed sometimes with her on the Shankill Road here in Belfast, along with my uncle Sandy (Alexander) take care...
Back in the day you could of betted your life that these two would of had a private bet on the match between em ,both sadly were full on gamblers but both good men .
When talking about his practise sessions Thorne said he made 100's of 147's and after listening to other players talk about him i can believe that no problem , guy was basically a genius ,
@@londonlady1966 some take losing better than others though .like ray reardon he was gracious when he lost .see the 82 final we higgins.ray could still have a joke after losing.
A year later in the same championship, Thorne missed that infamous blue which in all likelihood cost him the title. Curiously, those stars (Fagan, Virgo, Thorne), who seemed destined to succeed Reardon and Spencer at the top of the game, had their best career performances in the UK championship.
From what I remember, the sportsnight programme was very much against snooker. On plenty of occasions the thrill of watching the climax to a big match was ruined by said programme showing only a paltry 15 mins. They seemed much more interested in show jumping or some other nonsense!
There was a match at the masters in 83 between Higgins and Big Bill which also didn't have much coverage. I think from memory only about 25 minutes was shown and one of the frames had an 11 minute black ball decider where they sent the black up and down the table before Bill sank it. Higgins led 3-0 but Bill won 5-4. The atmosphere was electric but as you say they used to show other things plus also in those days many big boxing fights were on the same night. I recall Hagler v Minter was on a Wed. Of course nowadays all the big fights are at the weekend.
Thorne nearly won the tournament the following year in 85. He led Davis 12-6 and 13-8 before famously missing a blue off the spot for the frame. Davis came back and won 16-14
The kick that Willie Thorne gets on the white at 1.11.50 is ironic as he has just had the cue ball cleaned. The commentators make no reference to this and assume it is down to Willie rushing the shot. You only have to see how the cue ball decellerates to see it is a kick. I have often wondered if cleaning the white makes much difference but you can't just say after a kick ' well if he had had the white ball cleaned he wouldn't have got the kick'. I just find it interesting that the ref cleans the red and a bad contact still occurs.
I read in a book these two fighting over a joint teddy bear Alex Wanted for his kiid s but Willie would no t give to him In any way going true customs Alex told coustoms there was Drusgs in the bear the two of them ending up punching the head of each other
Willie actually beat Higgins 3 times out of 10, twice in ranking events in 89 (UK and European Open) and also in the Matchroom League in the same year.
@@digeme69 As I said i don't think these were on TV...certainly the European event and obviously the Matchroom League. Last 32 of the UK Open may have been but I don't recall it.
@@MattBridger Yes i note you said that but the UK was a tv event and its possible there may have been footage of the matchroom league, anyway its all history now
@@digeme69 Yup I think the central point I wanted to make was that Alex comfortably had Willie's card marked during his peak years. There was no way he was going to lose an important match against him and I always watched those games feeling supremely confident.
Actually the European game was the one he played on 1 leg after beating Les Dodd ..affter he'd jumped through the window...so he can be forgiven for losing that 😁
Alex loved The Guild Hall on Preston. I saw him a few times there around this time. There was a little old lady called Lizzie Baron who was from the next village to where we lived. She was the one that organised all his good luck cards that you sometimes saw on his table next to his seat. She adored him.
She had good taste in Rock Star Snooker players then.
I'm sure that's her sitting to the right of Alex, with the dark glasses?
Yes it is her! I once spoke to her in 1989 as she came into the DIY shop I worked in and she said Alex was a 'bloody fool to himself' but it didn't stop her supporting him, even at her age.
Alex was a very classy player with tons of natural ability a true proper snooker man
Hello Trevor
I Attended the 1984 Alex Higgins v Cliff Thorburn
Semi Final in This Prestigious UK Championship.
A Outstanding Match One of The Best I Ever
Saw Live. In Total i Attended 29 Snooker Matches Live
Between 1981 to 1992. My Favourite Venue was
The Assembly Rooms in Derby.
Have a Smashing Weekend
WAYNE.
I lost count at the amount of live matches I saw but it's probably over 200. Went to the Masters at Wembley every year from 1984-2006. Went many times also to Hexagon Reading and also Bournemouth international centre plus Derby a few times and The Guild Hall Preston once and of course not to forget the Crucible went twice in 85,86
@@digeme69 Top Draw you Attended loads of Matches.
i Saw Another Great Match at the Norbreck Castle Hotel
In Blackpool the 1988 Mercantile Final 1988
Davis v Parrott. as said Great Final Freezing Outside Snow.
when commentary was classy and relaxing
I found the commentary from Dave Farrar was very relaxing during the Semifinals of the WC last year between McGill and Wilson
I must say I find Alan McManus very irritating with his hyperbolic style .
two class players making the game look ridiculously easy...
effortless potting & break building...
wonderfully complimented by less is more commentary...
miss these days.
Yeah and u had proper natural commentators unlike what u got now rob walker that's pure desperation
Well said....they don't stop talking now
David vine...Harry Carpenter....the voice of Clive Everton Ted lowe and John Spencer...with Len Ganley the big Irish ref played on BCE tables.....with two great players.....I used to watch these guys when i was 17 and i am 57 Now....I met Ray Reardon when i was 17......They were great times in snooker.
Was Ray eyeing up your neck?
Snooker in its heyday. However big snooker is now, it was then when it was REALLY big!! You had to book a table a week in advance at my local snooker club.
I was a century break player an above average club player. I was in the era of Jimmy white Steve Davis. I still maintain the most underated player ever. In my opinion is Ray Reardon.
@@christiano8088 yep...i used to go to my local snooker centre when the worlds was on and the place would be chocker ! and there were quite a few snooker clubs in cardiff at that time...couldnt get a table.....same used to happen with tennis courts when wimbledon was on as well !
As I'm watching it now on the 24th March 2021 (the date of publication), this video has had 147 views!
The great WT was Mr maximum as well!
Willie Thorne massively underachieved in snooker.
Willie Thorne had no bottle when it mattered
Rip the great WT and A.Higgins.
And the late great Len Ganley refereeing.
Good player Willie was sadly missed
Often not regarded as a natural player like Jimmy,Alex and Ronnie but he really was probably the best looking player in the balls so fluent.
Classic! Loved Len Ganley aswell
the best!
Great upload
Thank you! Cheers!
@@digeme69 Thanks for this.
A great classic!
RIP Sandy.❤
Well said Caz ,nice one 🌹
Who is sandy
alex.
Your comment jumped out, as you call Alex by his family name, my grandmother and Alex Mother were sisters. He stayed sometimes with her on the Shankill Road here in Belfast, along with my uncle Sandy (Alexander) take care...
Back in the day you could of betted your life that these two would of had a private bet on the match between em ,both sadly were full on gamblers but both good men .
willie played quick!!1
All that coughing, and you couldn't even blame Covid back then. Lol.
33.46 Thorne takes the frame which included a 60 break and looked impressive. Thorne was one of the most entertaining players I’ve ever seen
When talking about his practise sessions Thorne said he made 100's of 147's and after listening to other players talk about him i can believe that no problem , guy was basically a genius ,
His nickname was Mr 147.
Willie was great potter but often bottled it under the pressure
Alex had a killer instinct
his passion was an advantage
@@paleshelter4002 yes he hated losing.
@@ianwilliamson2980 in fairness, no-one does but he was extremely hard on himself.
@@londonlady1966 yea that's true
@@londonlady1966 some take losing better than others though .like ray reardon he was gracious when he lost .see the 82 final we higgins.ray could still have a joke after losing.
A year later in the same championship, Thorne missed that infamous blue which in all likelihood cost him the title. Curiously, those stars (Fagan, Virgo, Thorne), who seemed destined to succeed Reardon and Spencer at the top of the game, had their best career performances in the UK championship.
From what I remember, the sportsnight programme was very much against snooker. On plenty of occasions the thrill of watching the climax to a big match was ruined by said programme showing only a paltry 15 mins. They seemed much more interested in show jumping or some other nonsense!
There was a match at the masters in 83 between Higgins and Big Bill which also didn't have much coverage. I think from memory only about 25 minutes was shown and one of the frames had an 11 minute black ball decider where they sent the black up and down the table before Bill sank it. Higgins led 3-0 but Bill won 5-4. The atmosphere was electric but as you say they used to show other things plus also in those days many big boxing fights were on the same night. I recall Hagler v Minter was on a Wed. Of course nowadays all the big fights are at the weekend.
Good old len
Thorne nearly won the tournament the following year in 85. He led Davis 12-6 and 13-8 before famously missing a blue off the spot for the frame. Davis came back and won 16-14
The kick that Willie Thorne gets on the white at 1.11.50 is ironic as he has just had the cue ball cleaned. The commentators make no reference to this and assume it is down to Willie rushing the shot. You only have to see how the cue ball decellerates to see it is a kick. I have often wondered if cleaning the white makes much difference but you can't just say after a kick ' well if he had had the white ball cleaned he wouldn't have got the kick'. I just find it interesting that the ref cleans the red and a bad contact still occurs.
yes...
awful kick.
Watching this in 2024. Grew up Watching alex Higgins during the 80s. And now obviously Watching ronnie. I think Higgins much more skilled.
Hahahahahaha
Willie is just 30 years old here
David Vine slagging Kirk's moustache lol
Love Everton commentary. I wish American commentators would learn the Snooker commentator's art of not talking too much.
I read in a book these two fighting over a joint teddy bear Alex
Wanted for his kiid s but Willie would no t give to him
In any way going true customs Alex told coustoms there was
Drusgs in the bear the two of them ending up punching the head of each other
Back when willie had a full head of hair
Willie Thorne was great. In practice. I don't recall him beating Alex in any TV event...
Willie actually beat Higgins 3 times out of 10, twice in ranking events in 89 (UK and European Open) and also in the Matchroom League in the same year.
@@digeme69 As I said i don't think these were on TV...certainly the European event and obviously the Matchroom League. Last 32 of the UK Open may have been but I don't recall it.
@@MattBridger Yes i note you said that but the UK was a tv event and its possible there may have been footage of the matchroom league, anyway its all history now
@@digeme69 Yup I think the central point I wanted to make was that Alex comfortably had Willie's card marked during his peak years. There was no way he was going to lose an important match against him and I always watched those games feeling supremely confident.
Actually the European game was the one he played on 1 leg after beating Les Dodd ..affter he'd jumped through the window...so he can be forgiven for losing that 😁
Colourful
Good job the commentators aren’t paid by the word
Who beat Alex Higgins in the northern Ireland amateur championship
Dessie Anderson.
Imagine Jimmy White would have looked like Willie Thorne if he didn't wear that wig
What Jimmy wears a wig 🦱
@@patrickdoherty3758 That should read :"What! Jimmy wears a wig?"
@@edmundpower1250 I'm lazy
@@patrickdoherty3758 That should read :"I am lazy!"
@@edmundpower1250 🤣😅😆
If only he had potted that blue.
Willie "no hair worn" Thorne
Those pockets are buckets
Like your mothers flange
No they're not, they're the same as today's.